There is a sentence missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit:

**Sentence:**
Easing the anxiety and pressure of having a "big day" is part of the appeal for many couples who marry in secret.

**Paragraph:**
Wedding season is upon us and—after two years of Covid chaos that saw nuptials scaled back—you may think the temptation would be to go all out. __(1)__ But instead of expanding the guest list, many couples are opting to have entirely secret ceremonies. With Covid case numbers remaining high and the cost of living crisis meaning that many couples are feeling the pinch, it’s no wonder that some are less than eager to send out invites. __(2)__ Plus, it can’t hurt that in celebrity circles, getting married in secret is all the rage. __(3)__ “I would definitely say that secret weddings are becoming more common,” says Landis Bejar, the founder of a therapy practice specializing in helping brides and grooms manage wedding stress. “People are looking for ways to get out of the spotlight and avoid the pomp and circumstance of weddings. __(4)__ They just want to get to the part where they are married.”

Question

There is a sentence missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide in which blank (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit:

**Sentence:**  
Easing the anxiety and pressure of having a "big day" is part of the appeal for many couples who marry in secret.

**Paragraph:**  
Wedding season is upon us and—after two years of Covid chaos that saw nuptials scaled back—you may think the temptation would be to go all out. __(1)__ But instead of expanding the guest list, many couples are opting to have entirely secret ceremonies. With Covid case numbers remaining high and the cost of living crisis meaning that many couples are feeling the pinch, it’s no wonder that some are less than eager to send out invites. __(2)__ Plus, it can’t hurt that in celebrity circles, getting married in secret is all the rage. __(3)__ “I would definitely say that secret weddings are becoming more common,” says Landis Bejar, the founder of a therapy practice specializing in helping brides and grooms manage wedding stress. “People are looking for ways to get out of the spotlight and avoid the pomp and circumstance of weddings. __(4)__ They just want to get to the part where they are married.”

Accepted Answer

The missing sentence explains why couples prefer secret weddings by addressing their desire to avoid anxiety and pressure associated with a "big day." Let's analyze each option:

- **Option 1:** The transition from Covid chaos to secret ceremonies is already smooth here; inserting the sentence would disrupt this flow.  
- **Option 2:** This fits perfectly after discussing financial pressures ("feeling the pinch"), as it transitions logically into another reason for choosing secret weddings—reducing anxiety and pressure.  
- **Option 3:** This placement would disrupt the transition from celebrity influence ("Plus...") to secret weddings being trendy.  
- **Option 4:** The transition from avoiding pomp to wanting simplicity is already smooth; adding this sentence here would be redundant.

Thus, **Option 2** is the most appropriate placement for the missing sentence.

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